Last modified: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:27 AM EDT Wrentham firefighters want Civil Service BY STEPHEN PETERSON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF WRENTHAM - In what is expected to spark heated debate at Monday's annual town meeting, residents will decide if firefighter positions should be Civil Service jobs and if the fire chief should have reduced authority. The firefighters petition for Civil Service, which police officers have, was led by union President Tony Marino and fellow firefighters. Civil Service, which requires a standardized exam to be hired, would give firefighters more job security. The change, which would have to be approved by the state Legislature, would affect all positions in the department, including the deputy fire chief, but not the fire chief. "I felt it would be cumbersome, but probably is the right way to go under the circumstances," Fire Chief Robert Morrill said. Firefighters have signs out and are sending out mailings "trying to educate" residents, Marino said. "Basically it really gives the town a tool to put a system in place to get a larger pool of candidates for entry level positions," Marino said, adding the pool of candidates is dwindling. "Also, we are trying to give everyone a fair opportunity of promotion through merit. It kind of takes the hiring of a best friend or acquaintance or making promises to someone who is not necessarily the most qualified candidate." Also, if there is a layoff, a firefighter can be put on the Civil Service list and they can try to catch on with another department, Marino added. Selectman John Zizza points out Civil Service makes it difficult to get rid of an employee. With budget reductions necessitating job eliminations, that could pose a problem. "You limit people and experience if it is Civil Service, and it is almost impossible to get rid of someone if someone is doing a terrible job," Zizza said. "There are a lot of disadvantages to the town and a lot of advantages for someone who takes a job as Civil Service." Selectman Edward Goddard has a different take. "I don't really have a lot of issues if firefighters want to go into Civil Service. It takes politics and personalities out" of hiring and promotion, Goddard said. Sgt. William McGrath, head of the police union, said police support the firefighters push for Civil Service. "The whole purpose of Civil Service is to make a barrier" between employees and politicians to allow the employees to do their jobs without interference, McGrath said, adding it also avoids nepotism. Morrill is officially retiring as fire chief May 1. The post is considered a "strong chief," position where the chief has more powers than a so-called "weak chief" system. Selectmen have proposed a town meeting article asking voters if they want to rescind the acceptance of state law in the early 1980s allowing a strong chief. "We are looking at whether we want to leave it a strong chief or a weak chief," Selectmen Chairwoman Mary Dunn said. A "strong chief," Morrill says, "takes the politics out of the day-to-day operation of the fire department. It minimizes micromanagement. It gives people working on the department one voice to listen to." A strong chief hires, fires, and promotes on their own. "The board of selectmen feels they need to control every move the chief makes," Marino said. Selectmen disagree. "I certainly as a member of the board of selectmen don't want to run the fire department. I am not qualified to do that, and I have no interest in doing that," Goddard said. On the other hand, the selectman says "the police and fire chiefs need to be responsible and report to someone. There is probably not a great reason to go with a weak chief." Police Chief Joseph Collamati Jr. is also set to retire, possibly by the fall, and selectmen are considering removing the police chief position from Civil Service, but that isn't on the town meeting warrant. "We are still trying to find out what the advantages and disadvantages are," Dunn said. "We are just doing what we think is best for the town," Dunn said of possible changes with the two chiefs positions. "We are not hurting these individuals. They are retiring and will be gone. I am not saying change is going to happen. If we are going to make a change, now would be the time to do it." A Civil Service exam is scheduled for May for police chief, and that is restricted to in-state candidates. Zizza points out out-of-state candidates can be hired if the police chief job isn't Civil Service. "All we said we should do is look at the pros and cons," Zizza said. "If it is not a Civil Service job, it is a level playing field, and you can pick from a bigger group of people. It is our responsibility to look into this, whether it should be business as usual." The police chief's contract expires in May 2008 when Collamati will have reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 and has to retire. "He says he is going to stay until we hire a new chief," Dunn said. STEPHEN PETERSON can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.